The AHSAA merged with the Alabama Interscholastic Athletic Association in 1968, forming one high school athletic association for the State of
Alabama in accordance with a court order relating to athletics. The AIAA had previously governed athletics at
segregatedAfrican-American schools.

While the AHSAA is the primary sanctioning organization for high school sports in Alabama (and the only one allowed for public schools), it is not the only such organization. The
Alabama Independent School Association sanctions athletics for approximately 40 private schools throughout the state.[1] Other smaller organizations, such as the Alabama Christian Sports Conference and the Alabama Christian Athletic and Academic Association, sanction sports from smaller
Christian schools and
home schools, particularly in
eight-man football.